Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing students with a general knowledge of the contemporary theoretical political debate and its historical evolution, through the study of some of its key issues, the reading, and discussion of classic texts and the analysis of the impact they had, throughout the history of political thought. Beginning to question what is politics, by the end of the class, the student is expected to:

- make an appropriate use of the political lexicon;
- be aware of the permanence and obsolescence of some traditions of thought in the contemporary political debate;
- be able to identify and analyze the differences between classical, modern and contemporary political theories;
- be able to examine, describe and compare how different approaches work to solve a given political issue;
- be able to write a paper and make a presentation on a selected topic in political theory, with a historical awareness.

Program

Prerequisites: Reading skills in English.

Contents:
Beginning with the analysis of Machiavelli's political thought, with the help of a body of texts of the Early Modern Florentine political lab, the course will discuss: politics as the main activity of the human condition; the prejudices on Machiavelli's ideas; prejudices against politics; how can be defined the political judgment. The first part of the course will be devoted to the reading and the analysis of classical and modern political texts (Aristotle, Machiavelli, Guicciardini, Hobbes...) along with contemporary sources (Arendt, Beitz, Wolin, Pogge, Tetlock ...). Durig the second part, students will lead seminars, discussions and make oral presentations on a specific topic.

Teaching Methods:
The first part of the course will be devoted to the reading and the analysis of classical and modern political texts (Aristotle, Machiavelli, Guicciardini, Hobbes...) along with contemporary sources (Arendt, Beitz, Wolin, Pogge, Tetlock ...). Durig the second part, students will lead seminars, discussions and make oral presentations on a specific topic.

Texts:

Readings:
Jean-Claude Zancarini, Una scommessa di Machiavelli, Vicenza, 2017
A complete list of readings will be circulated at the beginning of the course.

Those students who are unable to attend the entire course will prepare the exam on the following books:

Jean-Claude Zancarini, Una scommessa di Machiavelli, Vicenza, 2017
John Najemy, Storia di Firenze, Torino, 2015
Corrado Vivanti, Niccolò Machiavelli. I tempi della politica, Roma, 2008.

Examination Methods